You don't have to be a doctor to save lives...just an advocate with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. The Minnesota Advocacy Beat is a resource for those of you working hard to fight heart disease and stroke across MN and the country. Keep up-to-date on state policy issues, check out what is going on in the media and let us know what you are doing as a You’re the Cure advocate!

Throughout the year, our blog will feature AHA volunteer stories of survival and hope.
We know there are thousands of stories like these - thats why we want to say “Thanks” to all of you for giving your time and sharing your lives with us.
You can’t spell CURE without U! Thank you for all you do to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. YOU’RE THE CURE!

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

As you may know, this
past May the legislature established the Minnesota Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
program which was signed into law by Governor Dayton on May 10, 2012. The
law requires the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation (MNDOT) to establish a state
SRTS program and account. While the policy language was established, the
program received no funding.

SRTS is a national and international movement to create safe, convenient, and
fun opportunities for children to bike and walk to and from schools. The goal
of the program is to get more kids walking and biking to school, which can play
a critical role in reversing the alarming nationwide trend toward childhood
obesity and inactivity.

Establishing the Minnesota SRTS program was a great first step, but now the
program needs to be funded in order to be effective. The Governor is
working on preparing his biennium budget right now.

The SRTS program seeks to increase physical activity among school children and
decrease transportation costs. Each funding cycle MNDOT receives millions more
dollars in grant requests than they are able to fund - five to ten times the
amount of funding that is available. In the last federal funding cycle
MNDOT received 82 applications from local schools requesting $23 million but
only $3.8 million was available and awarded to 16 applicants through the federal
program.

The program would be open to all Minnesota schools (the federal program
excludes high schools from applying) and requires a resolution of support from
the local school board. The law also requires the commissioner of MNDOT to
establish criteria for the program, publish a manual on the safe routes to
school program, and requires an annual report to the Legislature on the
program.

St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Legislature has created a Safe Routes to School Program for the state but fell short when it came to funding the program.

Supporters of the program say they will work over the next six months to convince the governor’s office to request funding for Safe Routes to School in his budget and to build legislative support for the program.

“Last year, we made huge inroads in the effort to get Minnesota policymakers to understand the importance of creating a Minnesota-based Safe Routes Program,” said Rachel Callanan, Regional Vice President of Advocacy for the American Heart Association. “Next year we will go back to the legislature to help them better understand the need to fund the program."

Safe Routes to School creates safe and convenient opportunities for children and youth to bicycle and walk to and from schools. The program is designed to reverse the decline in children walking and bicycling to schools. Safe Routes to School can also play a critical role in reversing the alarming nationwide trend toward childhood obesity and inactivity.

Under the program, projects that would be eligible for funds include pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, traffic diversion improvements near schools, sidewalks, and other infrastructure to help enhance the safety of those who walk and bike.

One of the arguments in favor of creating and funding a Safe Routes to School program for the state is because the existing federal program inadequately funds the needs of Minnesota’s schools to create safer routes for children. In the 2011 funding cycle, only 16 of the 82 applications from Minnesota schools were awarded funding. In addition, the federal program provides no funds directed toward high schools – a key age group for biking and walking to school.

Callanan said that crash statistics point out the need to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety. “In 2009, more than 23,000 children ages 5 to 15 were injured and 250 killed by cars when they were struck while walking or bicycling. Those figures represent 25 percent of all children’s traffic fatalities and 15 percent of all children’s traffic injuries,” she said.

The effort to establish a Safe Routes to School program for Minnesota is supported by 30 organizations, including American Heart Association.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Yoga for chronic stroke patients appears to be cost effective and might help
them become more active.

DALLAS, July 26, 2012 — Group yoga can improve balance in stroke survivors
who no longer receive rehabilitative care, according to new research in the
American Heart Association journal Stroke.
In a small pilot study, researchers tested the potential benefits of yoga
among chronic stroke survivors — those whose stroke occurred more than six
months earlier.

“For people with chronic stroke, something like yoga in a group environment
is cost effective and appears to improve motor function and balance,” said
Arlene Schmid, Ph.D., O.T.R., lead researcher and a rehabilitation research
scientist at Roudebush Veterans Administration-Medical Center and Indiana
University, Department of Occupational Therapy in Indianapolis, Ind.

The study’s 47 participants, about three-quarters of them male veterans,
were divided into three groups: twice-weekly group yoga for eight weeks; a
“yoga-plus” group, which met twice weekly and had a relaxation recording to use
at least three times a week; and a usual medical care group that did no
rehabilitation.

The yoga classes, taught by a registered yoga therapist, included modified
yoga postures, relaxation, and meditation. Classes grew more challenging each
week.
Compared with patients in the usual-care group, those who completed yoga or
yoga-plus significantly improved their balance.

Balance problems frequently last long after a
person suffers a stroke, and are related to greater disability and a higher
risk of falls, researchers said.

Furthermore, survivors in the yoga groups had improved scores for
independence and quality of life and were less afraid of falling.

“For chronic stroke patients, even if they remain disabled, natural
recovery and acute rehabilitation therapy typically ends after six months, or
maybe a year,” said Schmid, who is also an assistant professor of occupational
therapy at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis and an
investigator at the Regenstrief Institute.

Improvements after the six-month window can take longer to occur, she said,
“but we know for a fact that the brain still can change. The problem is the
healthcare system is not necessarily willing to pay for that change. The study
demonstrated that with some assistance, even chronic stroke patients with
significant paralysis on one side can manage to do modified yoga poses.”

The oldest patient in the study was in his 90s. All participants had to be
able to stand on their own at the study’s outset.

Yoga may be more therapeutic than traditional exercise because the
combination of postures, breathing and meditation may produce different effects
than simple exercise, researchers said.

“However, stroke patients looking for such help might have a hard time
finding qualified yoga therapists to work with,” Schmid said. “Some occupational
and physical therapists are integrating yoga into their practice, even though
there’s scant evidence at this point to support its effectiveness.”

Researchers can draw only limited conclusions from the study because of its
small number of participants and lack of diversity. The study also didn’t have
enough participants to uncover differences between the yoga and control groups.
The scientists hope to conduct a larger study soon.

Researchers also noticed improvements in the mindset of patients about
their disability. The participants talked about walking through a grocery store
instead of using an assistive scooter, being able to take a shower and feeling
inspired to visit friends.

“It has to do with the confidence of being more mobile,” Schmid said.
Although they took time to unfold, “these were very meaningful changes in life
for people.”

Follow @HeartNews on Twitter for
the latest heart and stroke news. For stroke science, follow the Stroke
journal at @StrokeAHA_ASA .

###

Statements and conclusions of study authors
published in American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of
the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the association’s policy or
position. The association makes no representation or guarantee as to their
accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from
individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device
manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific
association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent
these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from
pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding .

July
20, 2012Apple
Valley-Rosemount Patch.comThe
Dakota County Public Health department was honored last week at the 2012 annual
conference of the National Association of County and City Health Officials
(NACCHO) for developing a “model practice” program in response to a local
public health need. The Smart Choices program was one of 39 public health
programs selected from 166 applicants across the nation to receive NACCHO’s
Model Practice Award. Smart
Choices was created in 2009 by the Dakota County Public Health department and
the nine public school districts in the county to support healthy choices by
students and staff by increasing healthy food options and physical activity
before, during and after school. Research shows that improving eating
and activity habits improves both children’s health and their academic
achievement. Studies also show that healthy habits developed in childhood go a
long way toward reducing the risk of developing chronic disease as adults. “Recognition
of Smart Choices by NACCHO affirms that we are making great strides in
improving the health of Dakota County students,” said Bonnie Brueshoff, Dakota
County public health director. “We are pleased to have this opportunity to
share our work with other local health departments across the country. We thank
the schools and other community partners for their efforts to provide healthy
food and increased physical activity options for students.” An
important component of a model practice is evaluating the impact of the
activities. Smart Choices teams have conducted comprehensive assessments in the
schools, examining the type of food sold in the cafeteria, vending machines and
school stores as well as school policies covering fundraising and classroom
celebrations. A few of the key changes since 2009 include:· All
70 schools in six districts currently participating in Smart Choices have
increased the number of vegetables served daily at lunch, and 26 of them offer
salad bars to students. · 63
of 70 (90 percent) schools increased the number of fruits available daily.· All
37 elementary schools now serve only healthy food that meets federal standards
for lunch. · Twenty-six
schools in the county have been awarded the Healthier U.S. School Challenge
Silver Awards, which are based on Institute of Medicine guidelines and the
latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Smart
Choices is currently funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota through
its Prevention Minnesota initiative. The program has also received funding from
the Minnesota Department of Health’s Statewide Health Improvement Program.
Dakota County and the school districts have contributed significant in-kind
staff support for Smart Choices. More
information about Smart Choices is available at www.DakotaCounty.us, search “Smart
Choices”.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

HEALTH CARE LAW SAVES PEOPLE IN Minnesota $62.3 MILLION ON
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

In 2012 alone,
15,326 with Medicare have saved an average of $594

As
a result of the Affordable Care Act, people with Medicare in Minnesota have
saved $62,303,811 on prescription drugs since the law was enacted. The
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also released data today
showing that in the first half of 2012, 15,326 with Medicare in Minnesota saved
a total of $9,106,662 on prescription drugs in “donut hole” coverage gap for an
average of $594 in savings this year.

Nationwide,
over 5.2 million seniors and people with disabilities have saved over $3.9
billion on prescription drugs since the law was enacted.

“Millions
of people with Medicare have been paying less for prescription drugs thanks to
the health reform law,” said CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.
“Seniors and people with disabilities have already saved close to $4 billion
nationwide. In 2020, the donut hole will be closed thanks to the Affordable
Care Act.”

These
savings are automatically applied to prescription drugs that people with
Medicare purchase, after they hit the Medicare Part D prescription drug
coverage gap or “donut hole.” Since the law was enacted, seniors and
people with disabilities have had several opportunities to save on prescription
drugs:

·In
2010, people with Medicare who hit the donut hole received a one-time $250
rebate. These rebates in Minnesota totaled $16,744,250;

·In
2011, people with Medicare began receiving a 50 percent discount on covered
brand name drugs and 7 percent coverage of generic drugs in the donut
hole. Last year, 61,367 Medicare beneficiaries in Minnesota received a
total of $36,452,899 in discounts, an average savings of $594 for 2011;

·This
year, Medicare coverage for generic drugs in the coverage gap has risen to 14
percent. For the first six months of the year, people with Medicare in
Minnesota have saved $9,106,662.

Coverage
for both brand name and generic drugs in the gap will continue to increase over
time until 2020, when the coverage gap will be closed.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Minnesota may be in America's Breadbasket, but we still have 206 deserts,
food deserts that is, which seems ironic for one of the nation's leading food
processing states.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its Food Desert
Locator, an interactive online tool that helps community leaders nationwide
identify food deserts in their area. There are more than 6,500 nationwide.

A food desert is "an area in the United States with limited access to
affordable and nutritious food, particularly such an area composed of
predominantly lower-income neighborhoods and communities," as defined by the
2008 Farm Bill.

The Locator classifies a "low-income community" as a census tract (a
geographic sub-county region defined for the purpose of taking a census) with a
poverty rate of ≥20% or a median family income at or below 80% of the area
median family income.

It defines “limited access” as at least 500 people or at least 33% of a
census tract residing more than 1 mile from a supermarket or large grocery store
in urban areas or more than 10 miles in rural areas. This might not sound like a
problem but imagine not owning a vehicle.

For instance, a low access rate of 80% means that 80% of the census tract's
population has limited access to a supermarket or grocery store as defined by
the USDA's parameters.

Over 360,000 Minnesotans fall into the limited access category, according to
the USDA.

In many cases, this limited access is concentrated. 52 census tracts have
limited access rates over 90%, with 40 of these tracts experiencing 100% limited
access.

Additionally, there are 12 census tracts in which at least 20% of the
population is low-income and has low access to a supermarket or large
grocery store. Nine of these census tracts are in Hennepin or St. Louis
County.

However, though food deserts are often regarded as urban ills, they afflict
all types of communities.

Food deserts are found in 63 of Minnesota's counties, as shown in the locator
map. In fact, nearly 54% of Minnesota’s food deserts are rural.

Clearly, this is a statewide issue.

An important piece of this puzzle is children's nutrition.

Over 90,000 Minnesota children have low access to a supermarket or large
grocery store, according to the USDA. In some areas, the percentage of kids with
limited access is as high as 46.5%.

Luckily, there has been some headway on the matter.

The First Lady’s Let’s
Move! initiative, which sparked the development of the Food Desert
Locator, seeks to not only combat childhood obesity but to also increase access
to healthy and affordable foods, especially for Americans living in food
deserts.

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Treasury, and Health and Human Services
have also taken the issue head-on, recommending the following policy
interventions:

1. Financing healthy food retail outlets in
food deserts.

2. Financing the production or distribution
of healthy food in food deserts.

3. Financing strategies that promote or
encourage the purchase of healthy foods.

Increasing access to healthy foods for Minnesota communities, educating
families on healthy nutrition behaviors, and bringing community members to the
table on the matter will only make Minnesota a healthier and more equitable
state.

“This
contract is a significant milestone in the design and development of a
Minnesota health insurance exchange,” said Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman.
“We can now move forward on developing the technology backbone of the exchange,
a user friendly tool that will help more than 1.2 million Minnesotans choose
the quality coverage they need at a price they can afford.”

Minnesota’s
health insurance exchange is planned to launch in October 2013. One in five
Minnesotans are expected to use the exchange as a new way to choose their
health coverage, compare policies, and help determine whether they are eligible
for public programs or federal tax credits.

· *The
average Minnesota family buying insurance through the exchange will save $500
in health care costs

· *After
federal tax credits, individual consumers will see an average decrease in
premiums of more than 20% for insurance purchased through the exchange

· *By 2016,
roughly 300,000 currently uninsured Minnesotans will gain coverage through the
exchange. About 200,000 small business employers and employees will choose
their health insurance through the exchange. In addition, approximately 700,000
Minnesotans will enroll in Minnesota’s public health care programs through the
exchange

· *Small
employers will save up to 7.5% off of premium costs by using the exchange while
those with fewer than 25 employees eligible for tax credits will save even more

“Nearly
700,000 Minnesotans are expected to enroll in Medicaid coverage through the
exchange,” said Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson. “Modernizing the
state’s eligibility and enrollment system through the exchange is an important
reform that will simplify the process for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans
while saving time and taxpayer dollars.”

Department
of Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger added, “An exchange will give all
Minnesotans access to high quality and affordable care and give us new
opportunities to address health disparities in our state.”

The
contract with MAXIMUS (MMS) covers the development of technology supporting
various functions that a health insurance exchange would need to perform. Those
functions include individual eligibility determination and enrollment, small
employer eligibility and enrollment, certification and display of health
benefit plan options and costs, navigator and agent/broker listing, display of
health care provider information, premium aggregation and payment, and account
administration.

The
contract also includes major technology improvements to Minnesota’s Medicaid
systems to provide streamlined eligibility determinations, enhance customer
service, allow for timely eligibility changes, and promote ongoing program
integrity. In addition, the new technology system will allow the Department of
Health to provide information on provider quality. Finally, the technology will
allow the Health and Commerce departments to fulfill their roles as the
certifier of Qualified Health Plans.

Review
this document for a basic understanding of how many people will be impacted by
Minnesota’s health insurance exchange, and how much it will help Minnesota
families and businesses save on premiums.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

President Obama signed into law an FDA Reauthorization bill on Monday that
includes three key provision crafted by Sen. Al Franken.

The provision includes allowing the FDA to tap a deeper well of expertise
from the medical device industry during the approval process, encouraging
medical device makers to develop treatments for rare diseases, and requiring
that the FDA withdraw guidance released by the FDA that could have created new
and burdensome requirements for companies making changes to their approved
devices.

“I’m pleased that President Obama signed this bill into law because it will
mean that Minnesotans will have faster, safer access to innovative and
potentially life-saving medical devices,” said Franken.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Past American
Heart Association president Gordon Tomaselli and AHA spokesman Russell Luepker
are quoted in a USA Today article entitled “Heart disease in men can be
fought head-on.” The article reminds us that although the rate of death from
cardiovascular disease declined by 31% from 1998 to 2008, the disease is still
the leading cause of death in the United States – the No. 1 killer of both men
and women.

The story
points out that men often suffer from the disease at a younger age than women
because they tend to have higher blood pressure, higher cholesterol and they
are more likely to be smokers. Also, men are less likely to be treated for
high blood pressure than women and a lot of them don't manage their blood
pressure as well as women do. However, more women die of heart disease than
men.

Says
Dr.Tomaselli, a cardiologist: "If you have known risk factors for heart
disease — diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol – you need to get
them under control.” This is the plain-spoken, practical advice the American
Heart Association is always eager to share.

Dr. Tomaselli
was interviewed for this article many months ago, while he was still president
of the American Heart Association. Dr. Donna Arnett succeeded him on July 1.

Source:
Heart disease in men can be fought head-on by Nanci Hellmich, USA
Today. June 27, 2012. Posted July 8, 2012.

CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention has created the
Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke, a new online mapping tool that
documents geographic disparities in the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
at state and county levels. Users can create county-level maps of nine different
CVD outcomes, by sex, race/ethnicity, and age group, and can overlay maps with
congressional boundaries and locations of health-care facilities. Users also can
view maps showing county-level social determinants of health and health
services, including poverty, education, and food acquisition determinants.

The Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke is
available at http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dhdspatlas. The
atlas is designed to be a valuable tool for public health professionals,
researchers, community leaders, and others interested in monitoring CVD trends,
setting research priorities, and planning patient services.

Monday, July 9, 2012

News Release

Discussions about
what communities need to be healthy will take place around games of horseshoes

Minnesota Commissioner of Health Ed Ehlinger will visit several communities
around the state this summer, inviting local officials to join him in a game or
two of horseshoes while they discuss important public health issues.

Ehlinger, an avid fan of the traditional American game of horseshoes, said
the goal of the “Pitch the Commissioner” events is to talk with local officials
and community groups about public health issues in their communities and to
raise awareness of the value of public health and prevention.

“Pitching horseshoes is a fun and easy way for people to be physically
active and engage in conversation at the same time,” Ehlinger said. “I want to
hear what Minnesotans have to say about what their communities need to be
healthy and I want to highlight the achievements of local public health.”

The first stop on the “Pitch the Commissioner” tour will be in Rochester
Tuesday, July 10 at the East Park Horseshoe Pits, 1738 East Center St. Prior to
pitching horseshoes from 12:45 to 2:15 p.m., the commissioner will briefly
attend the Olmsted County Board meeting, take a walking tour as part of
“Healthy Living Rochester” and enjoy a box lunch with invited guests at the
park. Following the games, at the East Park shelter, the commissioner will
provide a briefing for local media and share a wrap-up of the day’s
conversations. In case of bad weather, the presentation will take place at
Olmsted County Public Health Building, 21000 Campus Drive SE.

The “Pitch the Commissioner” events in other communities will follow a
similar itinerary, but will be tailored to local needs. Events may include
observing activities that highlight local public health in action and visits to
MDH district offices when possible. Scheduled events so far include Buffalo
(Wright County) on July 31, Albert Lea (Freeborn County) on Aug. 21, and
Moorhead (Clay County) on Aug. 28.

Possible topics of discussion for the events could include the importance of
prevention in health reform, particularly the infrastructure needed to help
people become active (like having horseshoe pits available), modification of
health regulations, the impact of policy decisions on health, how to strengthen
local health departments and health care reform – or anything else local
officials want to mention.-MDH-

Meadowview Elementary

Midwest Region | Farmington,
Minnesota

Running Club & Century Club – At
Meadowview Elementary, students are motivated to stay highly active both at
school, and at home. Designed by PE Teacher Joe McCarthy, the Running Club and
the Century Club are complementary programs which use an incentive system to
reward students of all abilities for their physical activity, regardless of what
form. During the school day, Running Club rewards students for mileage goals
attained walking or jogging at the student's own pace. Outside the school day,
students earn additional "miles" by logging and converting activity of all
forms. Popular activities like hiking and skateboarding, or group play with
friends in the neighborhood; all are encouraged and rewarded back at school. By
engaging the local business community and other supporters, Mr. McCarthy has
been able to create health-related incentives such as gym passes, tickets to
local sporting events, and gift cards to athletic stores. Combined with
structured P.E. classes, these programs have kids moving 7 days a week.

Joe McCarthy is a board member of MN AHPERD and a Minnesotans for Healthy Kids Coalition member.

“The historic decision handed down today will benefit America’s heart
health for decades to come. Questions about the Affordable Care Act’s
constitutionality have overshadowed the law’s progress. With this ruling, that
uncertainty has finally been put to rest.

By upholding the law, the nation’s highest court has sent a clear message
that patients should be the first priority in an ever-changing healthcare
arena. The court’s action in support of the ACA helps remind us what’s really
important – enabling all Americans to obtain affordable, quality health care. We
can now build on the significant advances already achieved under the act and
truly transform our healthcare system.

Because of this ruling, the ACA can be fully implemented to help reach the
American Heart Association’s 2020 goal to improve the cardiovascular health of
all Americans and, more immediately, prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes
over the next five years through the Million Hearts initiative. Under the law’s
robust provisions, we are expanding access to preventive care and medicines to
reduce an individual’s risk factors; placing a stronger emphasis on community
prevention and wellness; and providing access to the care patients need to
recover after a heart attack or stroke so they can lead longer, more productive
lives.

For the 122 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, including the
7.3 million with some form of heart disease or stroke who are uninsured, this
decision will likely be met with a great sigh of relief. No longer will they be
denied coverage or charged higher premiums because of their health status.
Beginning in 2014, these Americans will finally be able to attain the lifesaving
care they desperately need at a price they can afford.

The ACA has also placed an extraordinary emphasis on the one thing that can
ultimately conquer heart disease and stroke – prevention. For individuals, the
law will continue to provide screening services that help keep risk factors such
as high blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity and tobacco use in check. At the
state and community levels, the Prevention and Public Health Trust Fund will
continue to provide the tools and resources Americans require to eat better, be
more physically active and live tobacco-free.

Each and every one of us will need health care at some point in our lives.
With this momentous decision, the Supreme Court has ensured that when we are
patients, we can focus on our healing and recovery, instead of worrying about
whether we can obtain or afford the quality care we all deserve.”

You're the Cure

The American Heart Association is always looking for committed and active advocates -- like you-- to join our You're the Cure advocacy network. This group of volunteers contacts their elected officials to help pass important heart-healthy policies in their state and across the nation.